Propeller-steering.



J. G. CHEISTIANSEN.

PEOPBLLER STEERING. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1911 Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

M. t n e. V I Ma JULIUS C. CHRISTIANSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROPELLER-SIEERING.

neaaeav.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Apnlication filed April 10, 1911. Serial No. 619 946.

To aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JULIUS C. CHRISTIAN- SEN, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany,

residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propeller-Steering, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention has relation to steering mechanism for aerial or water-craft, being particularly designed for air ships so as to cause the craft to rise or fall or to move to the right or left, the steering mechanism being adjustable vertically and horizontally to attain the objects in view and to enable the ship to be steered independently of a rudder.

The invention contemplates front and rear propellers mounted for simultaneous adjustment in opposite directions whereby the craft may be quickly turned in a comparatively small space.

The invention has for its object the novel mounting of the propeller and the provision of peculiar actuating means whereby a single lever may be utilized for adjusting.

the propeller both vertically and laterally.-

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and comblnation of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in themcompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a steering mechanism embodying the invention, showing front and rear propellers mounted both for vertical and lateral adjustment. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with parts omitted and showing the elements as seen from above. Fig. 3 is end view of a propeller, showing the two segments, and bearings cooperating therewith. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the longitudinally movable rod formed with the transverse slot, showing the hollow journals of the frame in which said rod is mounted. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a propeller and the segments cooperating therewith and supporting the bearing.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reierence characters.

The invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 embodies front. and rear propellers 22 mounted for simultaneous adjustment in opposite directions. The arrangement disclosed is best adapted for air. craft, since it enables the propellers to be adjusted-vertically and laterally to cause the ship to rise or fall or to move right or left. Each propeller has the shaft 21 which is connected by means of a universal joint 20 to the main shaft mounted in bearings 19 and adapted to be connected with a source of power for driving the propellers when the ship is in motion. Two segments 10and 12 are arranged relatively at a right angle and 'thecurved bars'thereof at the point of crossing receive a bearing 23 in which the propeller shaft 21 is mounted, said bearing being movable in the curved bar of each segment. The segment 10 is arranged vertically and swings laterally and has a straight bar 11 which is mounted in bearings 8. A bar 30 extends from the bar 11 in opposition to the segment and. flexible connections 25 are attached thereto and project in opposite directions and pass around guide pulleys 16and around an operating pulley 15. When the pulley 15 is turned one way or the other the segment 1.0 is caused to swing laterally to move the propeller to the right'or left as may be re- Pa'tented Mar. 18 1913.

quired. It is to be understood that the flexible connection 25 at one end of the steering mechanism passes around the operating pulley 15 in one direction and the flexible connection at the opposite end passes around the near pulley 15 in an opposite direction proximately horizontal position and when moved swings up or down so as to elevate or lower the propeller. A straight bar 13 connecting the curved bar forming the segment 12 is mounted in bearings and has a ba1yl8 pro ectlng therefrom, which is connected at its outer end by means of a link 17 with a longitudinally movable bar 5. The connections are such that the segments 12 at opposite ends of the steering mechanism are simultaneously moved in opposition so that when one propeller is moved upwardly the other propeller is moved downwardly, the result being a quick respcnsive action of thsxeratt to the. .prc-

pellers when adjusted. When the segment i2 is moved up or down the bearing 23 is naoved vertically in the segment 10 and when the segment 10 is moved laterally the bearing 23 is caused to travel horizontally in the segment 1;.

A frame is mounted to turn about a horizontal axis and has hollow journals 1 at opposite ends which are mounted in bearings T. The middle portion of the frame eouiprists a segment '2 and an extension said parts being oppositely disposed. An operating lever 14 arranged in the plane of the frame is fulcriuncd to the extension 24: thereof M29 and has a weight 30' at its lower end, which normally tends to retain the equilibrium of the air craft and to hold the operating lever and frame in a substantially vertical plane. The hollow journals l of the frame'extend beyond the bear ings 7 and have the operating pulleys 15 secured thereto. W'hen the operating lever l l is moved laterally the frame is caused to turn and the rotation of the operating pulleys l5 imparts movement to the flexible connections 25 and to the segments 10, whereby the propellers are moved laterally.

The bar 5 is mounted in the hollow journals ljof the frame and its ends project beyond the operating pullcys'l5 and are con nccted to the bars 18 by means of the links 17 for the purpose stated. The bar 5 has a. cross head midway of its ends in which is formed transverse slot or opening 6 through which the operating lever let passes. The operating lever may be swung laterally without imparting any movement to the bar 5, but when said operating lever is moved forwardly or backwardly the bar 5 has a longitudinal movement imparted thereto in corresponding direction, with the resul the segments 12 are swung in ve. plane, thereby moving the propellers upwardly or downwardly. The operating lever let is provided with a latch of ordinary construction to engage the segment 2, which is notched or toothed so as to positively hold the parts in the adjusted position. it second segment 3 is arranged relatively at right angle to the frame or segment 2 and receives the operating lever which passes theretlirough. When the upper end of the operating lever 14: is swung laterally it moves in the segment 3 and is held in the adjusted position by means of the latch engaging tecth or notches thereof. The segment 3 is mounted upon a suitable support 4.

li hilc it is preferred to mount the propellers so as to move both vertically and laterally it is obvious that they may be mounted so as to swing in one direction only, in which case the connections are arranged as indicated at 26, 27 and 28 in Figs. 2 and 3.

notions? connection with the accompanying drawin the invention appertainsfand While It have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to bethe best embodiment thereof, l desire to have it understoodthat the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when de sired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new, is

1. In a steering mechanism of the character specified the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis, a bar mounted upon the frame to relatively turn and to move longitudinally independently thereof, and an operating lever fulcrumed upon the frame and engaging the said bar and adapted to move the frame aboutits axis and to move the bar longitudh nally.

2. in a steering mechanism, the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis, a bar mounted upon the frame to relativel turn and to move longitudinally independently thereof, said bar having a transverse slot, and an operating lever passing through the transverse slot of the bar and fulcrumed upon the frame to invention move in the plane thereof.

3. in a steering mechanism of the character specified, the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis and provided with a segment, a bar mounted in the frame to relatively turn and move lon udinally independently and formcn with a transverse slot, ating lever fulcrumcd upon the frame and extending through the transverse slot of the longitudinally movable bar, and means for securing the operating lever in the required adjusted position.

i. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis and formed with a sega bar mounted upon the frame to relatively turn and to move longitudinally thereof and formed with a transverse slot, an operating lever fulcrumed upon the frame and passing through the transverse slot of the bar and engaging the segment of the frame, means for holding the operating lever in the adjusted position, and a Weight applied to the lever for normally holding it in a vertical plane.

5. ln steering mechanism, the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis and formed with a segment, a bar longitudinally movable with reference to the frame and mounted thereon, a lever thereof From the foregoing description, taken in fulcrumed upon the frame and engaging the frame and having the operating lever engaged thereby, and means cooperating with the operating lever and segments to hold the parts in adjusted position.

6. In steering mechanism, the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis and formed with a segment, a bar mounted upon the frame to relatively turn and to move longitudinally thereof and having a transverse slot, a segment arranged approximately at a right angle to the plane of the frame, an operating lever fulcrumed upon the frame and en gaging the twosegments, means for holding the operating lever in the adjusted position, and a weight having connection with the lower end of the operating lever.

7. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a frame having a hollow journal, a bar mounted in the hollow journal of the frame and adapted to move longitudinally therein, and an operating lever fulcrumed upon the frame and engaging the said bar to move the latter longitudinally and to turn the frame about its hollow journal.

8. In a steering mechanism, the combination of a frame having hollow journals at opposite ends and having opposite extensions intermediate of its ends, one of said extensions forming a segment, a bar mounted in the hollow journal of the frame to move therein and having a transverse slot at a point between the said hollow journals, and a lever fulcrumed upon the frame and engaging the segment thereof and passing through the transverse slot of the longitudinally movable bar.

9. In steering mechanism, the combination of a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis, a bar mounted upon the 1 frame to relatively turn and to move longil tudinally thereof, an operating lever engaging the frame and bar and fulcrumed upon the frame, two segments arranged relatively at a right angle to each other, a propeller, a bearing for the propeller engaging both of the said segments, connecting means between one of the segments and the frame, and other connecting means between the other segment and the longitudinally movable bar. a v

10. In steering mechanism the combination of front and rear propellers, two segments for each of the propellers arranged relatively at a right angle, a bearing for each propeller engaging the adjacent two segments, a frame mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis, connecting means between the ends of said frame and one of each of the said two segments, a bar mounted in the frame to relatively turn and to move longitudinally, connecting means between the ends of said bar and the other one of each of the two segments, and anoperating lever fulcrumed upon the frame andengaging the said bar, the connections being arranged to cause simultaneous adjustment-0f the propellers in opposite directions.

JULIUS C. CHRISTIANSEN.

lVitnesses STEPHEN H. JACKSON, ADRIAN H. JACKSON. 

